Key Facts about the Jewel of Muscat

About the Dhow
  1. The Jewel of Muscat is the name conferred by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said on a traditional sailing ship built on the coast of Qantab in Muscat.
  2. The design and construction of the Jewel of Muscat was inspired by a 9th century Arab sailing vessel (see paragraph 12 below) discovered in the territorial waters of Indonesia, near Belitung Island, in 1998. Its cargo included various artifacts ranging from Chinese and Arab ceramics, to silver and golden pots and coins, as well as the spice star anise.
  3. The Jewel of Muscat was presented as a Royal gift from His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said to the people of Singapore. This gift was in recognition of the positive bilateral relationship and cooperation between these two countries. Singapore and Oman have long been connected through maritime trade and the Silk Route, but Singapore has also played a pioneering role in the acquisition of treasures found in the wreckage of ships. It has also taken the initiative to document and highlight the discovery.
  4. The Jewel of Muscat is 18 meters long and 6.5 meters wide. It was built without nails or screws and the planks were sewn together with coconut fibers. This is similar to the traditional shipbuilding method used in the 9th century.
  5. The timbers were used in building the Jewel of Muscat include Afzelia africana (from Ghana), teak (from India), and sidr (from Oman). During a stopover in Sri Lanka, two broken masts were replaced with new ones made with Sri Lankan timber of the same type.
  6. The Jewel of Muscat set sail on its historic journey from the Port of Sultan Qaboos at 12 noon on the 1st of Rabie Al-Awwal 1431 AH, or the 16th of February 2010.
  7. Before arriving to its final destination in Singapore, the Jewel of Muscat stopped in Cochin (India), Galle (Sri Lanka), George Town (Penang Island), and Port Klang (Malaysia).
  8. The Jewel of Muscat arrived at Singapore, at 5pm on July 3rd 2010. The crew received a warm official and public reception in the presence of His Excellency the President of Singapore S.R. Nathan, among several other dignitaries, diplomats as well as businessmen and women.
  9. The Jewel of Muscat was received upon arrival in Singapore by an Omani delegation led by His Highness Sayyid Harib bin Thuwaini Al-Said, Envoy and Representative of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a number of other officials and businessmen were also present.
  10. During the voyage, the crew of the Jewel of Muscat used traditional 9th century navigation tools, as well as modern techniques, to further our understanding of ancient means of navigation.
  11. The main sails on the ship were handmade from canvas. Other secondary sails, made of doum palm leaves, were also used during the voyage.
  12. Marine archaeologists claim that the original ship, which inspired the building of the Jewel of Muscat, was traveling back from China to the Arabian Peninsula when an unfortunate accident prevented it from completing its journey. The Jewel of Muscat was built to revive the memory of that ship and honour its brave sailors. The Jewel of Muscat project constitutes a scientific, professional and cultural documentation of the rich maritime history and cultural heritage of the silk and spice routes.
  13. The Jewel of Muscat spent 68 days at sea, while the full voyage lasted 138 days, and covered 3580 nautical miles (the equivalent of 4119 miles or 6630 kilometers).
  14. The voyage of the Jewel of Muscat embodies an eternal symbol of the ancient links and the longstanding friendship between Oman and the peoples of the Indian Ocean rim. Jewel of Muscat also underlined the positive interaction between the Sultanate of Oman and other civilizations and cultures. It thus came in the context of Oman’s ancient history and celebrated a cultural legacy of which Omanis are proud.
  15. The crew of the Jewel of Muscat comprised 15 sailors led by Captain Saleh bin Said Al Jabri.
  16. All stages of the construction of the Jewel of Muscat and its epic voyage are documented on the website www.jewelofmuscat.tv, which contains many films, images and other interactive sections. Furthermore, National Geographic International Channel produced two documentary films. The first covers the construction of the Jewel of Muscat and the second depicts its voyage from Muscat to Singapore. In addition, National Geographic is expected to publish a book about the story of the Jewel of Muscat and her journey in 2012.
  17. Oman’s history has always been shaped by the sea; it is well known that Omani sailors were among the first Arabs to travel to the territories of India, China, Africa and the Americas, carrying with them the values of religion, tolerance, forgiveness and propriety.
  18. The project's objectives include motivating young Omanis to preserve this aspect of the Omani heritage. It also aims to develop a love of the sea, sailing, arts, heritage, and travel amongst young people, and to place Oman highly in the world of scientific exploration.
  19. The Jewel of Muscat set sail from Sultan Qaboos Port in an official and public ceremony held under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, in the presence of large number of officials, diplomats and families of the sailors. The ceremony included folkloric dancers, songs, and music, all in the style of traditional rituals for navigating ships, including the transfer of supplies to the ship.
  20. History will record this feat and it will remain as a living example for the next generations to see the great accomplishment of those brave men and women, boys and girls. It will be a motivating factor and source of pride for them.
  21. The Jewel of Muscat is now on permanent display to the public, as of 15th October 2011 at the Maritime Experiential Museum in Sentosa Resorts World, Singapore. The Museum entertains visitors with the story of the Maritime Silk Route and should also enrich historical, cross-cultural and scientific research.